Governor Cuomo Takes Tax-Free NY Idea To New Paltz

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken his new tax-free plan for businesses on the road. He was in the Hudson Valley today, touting his plan to allow new businesses to operate tax-free on SUNY campuses across New York.

One day after first introducing the plan at several stops across the state, Cuomo was back at it Thursday, delivering a speech at the State University of New York at New Paltz, which would be one of the 64 SUNY campuses statewide designated as tax–free for new businesses.

He says 55 of the 64 campuses are in upstate New York.

He presented his plan, called Tax-Free New York, to the legislature Wednesday as an answer to creating jobs and making the start-up business environment friendlier in the state, to keep businesses from setting up shop in lower- or no-tax states.

He refers to President Dennis Murray of Poughkeepsie-based Marist College.

Jonathan Drapkin is president and CEO of Newburgh-based non-profit planning and policy organization Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress.

He thinks the governor’s idea is creative, and while he says he likes the plan conceptually, he awaits the details.

Again, here’s Cuomo.

And he says his plan is a bold one, but something has to change.

As to some concern about existing businesses or localities that are already economically stressed being left out of the plan, Cuomo says he is already at work reducing taxes, which benefits them.